Datafox:
I'm sorry you wasted so much of your time copying and pasting those quotes. Perhaps you thought that I would be impressed. I am. That was a lot of work on your computer.
The relevant point is this: moral certainty does not reside with the Catholic Church, an association of Lutherans, bishops, Presbyterians, Methodists, (the faith where I was raised) or any other group or for that matter. It comes from an understanding of good and evil. Apparently, these folks you have quoted don't have the Big Picture. Do you realize how long it took the Catholic Church to take a moral stand against Hitler? HITLER! They have, to say the least, a poor track record in the "moral certainty" department. Need I refer you to the opinions of the hundreds of young men who were abused by priests? I think that horse is well beaten. Spanish inquisition? I rest my case.
If you want to talk about Christian beliefs, and apparently you do, then you must go back to the Bible. You will find that throughout this "founding document" of the Christain faith a great number of situations where God gave his followers victory over evil in battle. While Christ preached peace on an individual basis that we "turn the other cheek", he also mandated that the things of civil government were the province of man. That's why he let Himself be crucifed. It was lawful that he be executed. He knew it would happen before he took on a human form, and he used it for His purpose of salvation. In addition, He comletely validated ALL of the Old Testament scripture, including the defeat of evil. In fact, following the "rapture", Christ will return leading a huge army of belivers in a great battle where evil is finally defeated, and He will reign on Earth.
Apologies to those of you who don't believe. Some religious leaders were quoted here, and I had to set Datafox straight on doctrine.
Last, you have misquoted me in your opening sentence. I did not say that France and Germany were evil. I said that they had chosen evil, as in a decision to support one side or the other. France, for example, has shown that they have been willing to sell weapons components to Iraq when these sales have been banned. Recently, they acted as intermediaries between China and Iraq for the acquisition of nuclear components. Now if this is not a clear support of an "evil" regime by your standard, then I feel you need to live on earth another 20 or so years so that international politics become more clear to you.
